The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks have spawned acts of violence and unfair judgments, a renowned journalist said Monday night.

Rami Khouri, a Palestinian, Jordanian and American journalist, spoke to a group of more than 175 in the Gallery Room of the Memorial Union. He discussed several aspects of the Middle East conflict, including actions that can prevent future terrorism.

“Americans tend to simplify the issue. They say `Why do they hate us?’ when there is much more to the situation,” Khouri said.

“Who is `they’? Is it everyone in the Middle East, all the Muslims or simply those who actually committed the acts of terror?”

These words are all generalized because there are those who criticize America as well as those who admire and respect it, Khouri said.

“These simplifications are inaccurate and way off mark,” he said. “It actually complicates things by promoting the black vs. white, good vs. evil ideals, and we all know there are no such answers in reality.”

Khouri also discussed specific complaints made about America internationally.

“The United States have had a history of using countries when they need them and spitting them out when they are done,” Khouri said.

Khouri said there is one action that must be taken in order to prevent future terrorist attacks.

“All sides need to talk together, to sit down and analyze why this has happened and respond to the wide range of underlying causes,” he said. “The only way to prevent this from happening in the future is to peacefully get down to the bottom of this situation.”

Khouri spoke as part of the Institute on World Affairs lecture series “What is Terrorism?”

“[Khouri’s] presentation was very well balanced, and he was able to address all important sides and ideas,” said Gary Tartakov, faculty chairman of the Institute on World Affairs. “This conflict is the largest occupation in modern history, and he made it very clear that this had been going on long before Sept. 11.”